222 ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 



but I think it fcarcely corre&, fince an equal 

 diflribution of fubftance, is obvioufly as necef- 

 fary, as of length. Ofmer, no doubt, intended 

 to fpeak comparatively between the different 

 fpecies, and it is certain, that the fouthern bred 

 horfe, with his fmall hard fhank, and large, 

 dry, and tough finew, is able to move with a 

 much larger proportional weight, than the 

 thick grofs horfe of thefe northern countries. 

 Neverthelefs, to be able to carry weight, a 

 large fmew fhould be attached to a fhank, and 

 joints proportionally large; and the whole 

 fupported by a foot of compafs fufficient to 

 form a fteady foundation. It is the refult of 

 my conftant obfervation, that hacks, with large 

 bone under the knee, will always endure mod 

 rattling over the hard road. 



Horfes formed too bulky upwards, for their 

 lower extremities, are liable to various acciden- 

 tal lamenefTes and defects, merely from the 

 unequal preffure of their own, weight. Hence 

 windgalls, fplents, fpavins, and particularly 

 crookednefs of the joints. Thefe, and all 

 early-grown cattle, fhould be put to work 

 very late, in which cafe, they will improve ; 

 otherwife will feldom fland found long. It is 

 a mathematical truth, that a crooked joint can- 

 not be fo flronc: as a ftrai^ht one, as a column 

 is flrong, in proportion as it is perpendi- 

 cular. 



There 



